Rotary gas-engine.



H. J. GAUTHIER.

ROTARY GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION HLED DEC. 12. 1916.

H W J E y 1 nu @51 attozheq" H. J. GAUTHIER.

ROTARY GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION mwnsc. 12. 1916.

1 26 5 6 1 B Patented June 4, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- III/II 5 wve'nfoz HENRY JAMES GAUTHIER, OF PLAINFIELD,.NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GAUTHIER AND CLARKE, A COPARTNERSHI]?CONSISTING OF SAID GAUTHIER AND FRANK B.

CLARKE, or I'LAIINEIELD, NEW JERSEY.

' ROTARY GAS-ENGINE.

of the type in which a series of an uneven number of engine cylinderswith their operating pistons rotate within a stationary cylindricalshell or casing provided with exhaust and intake ports and an adjustablespark timer common to all the cylinders. The present inventioncontemplates a rotary explosive engine of the four cycle type in whicheach cylinder of the series isexploded, exhausted and re-charged oncefor every two revolutions of the engine. The several pistons operatingin the radial cylinders of the rotating series are connected throughtheir pitmen with a common crank held in stationary position, eccentricto the center of rotation of the series of cylinders.

1 The present invention contemplates certain improvements in the generalconstruction and operation of the type of four cycle rotary explosiveengine referred to, with a view to increasing the efiiciency of thistype of engine.

In order that the invention may be fully understood it will first bedescribed with ref erence to the accompanying drawings and afterwardpointed out more particularly in the annexed claims.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a slde elevation of a rotary four cycle explosive engine,embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical central transverse sec tional view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view of the same.

1 is the main circular or cylindrical casing of the engine formedintegral with the flanged base 2, and braced upon its opposite faces bythe heavy frame spiders 5 and 10, which are bolted to the opposite facesof the shell 1 and base 2 by means of bolts or set screws 5, 10, takinginto the base 2 and 6', 6", and 11*, 11", passing through arms 6 and 11of the main spiders into the per- Specification of Letters Patent.

e a, rare.

Application filed December 12. 1916. Serial No. 136,439.

forated thickened parts 1 of the shell 1. These spiders 5 and 10 affordsupports at opposite sides for the rotary shaft and stationary crank armas hereinafter explained, the spider arms 5, 6, being formed withoutwardly curved portions at 5 and 6 to afford clearance for thelaterally rojecting ends of the spark plugs carried by the rotatingseries of cylinders, as hereinafter explained. The casing 1 is providedupon opposite sides of the base 2 with the main exhaust port 20 and theintake port 21. An outwardly opening check valve 22 leads from.

the exhaust port 20, while an inwardly opening check valve 23.communicates with the intake port 21. The usual gas supplyingcarburcter- (not shown) is suitably connected with the check valve 23 ofintake 21. The casing 1 is formed at its upper edge opposite to base 2with an integral valve casing 25, forming an auxiliary exhaust port 26in which operates a, two-wa rotary valve plug 27 mounted upon a va vestem 28 which is operated from the rotary shaft of the engine in themanner hereinafter explained.

A series of an uneven number of radially arranged cylinders forms therotor of the engine. This rotor may be made in any approved manner, butpreferably comprises a metal casting having the desired number ofradially extending cylindrical enlarge ments into which radialcylindrical cavities are bored to receive the shells, or liningsconstituting the explosion cylinders. In the drawings the integralengine rotor comprises a series of radial enlargements 41 joined by theintervening web 12 located in the central transverse plane of theengine. Each of theseenlargements 11 has a radial cylindrical bore 44 inwhich is fitted the cylindrical lining shell 50. These shells50constitute the engine cylinders. Each shell 50 is formed at its outerend with the oppositely projecting segmental flanges 51 which rest inthe segmental cutaway portions 1-1 of the engine rotor. Suitablesprings, such as shown at 52, are mounted upon the flanges 51 to engagethe cutaway surfaces of the supporting body to maintain the flangedlining members 50 pressed outwardly with the segmental ortions 51 inworking contact with the inner cylindrical surface of the shell orcasing1.

Each (lf the shell cylinders 50 is formed upon one side near its outerflanged end with a circular boss 55 formed with a threaded opening toreceive an ordinary spark plug, such as shown at 56. The rotor isproperly cut away to receive the threaded lateral bosses 55. Thesparkplugs 56 project lat' ing the cylinders proper. The arms may be formedwith inwardly presented bosses at their outer ends or they may beotherwise properly shaped to be fitted to the rotary series of-cylnidersin a satisfactory manner.

Operating in each of the shell cylinders 50 is a reciprocating piston ofordinary construction the plston being preferably provided with packingrings to maintain compression. Each piston 70 has pivotally connectedwith it upon a wrist pin 75, a pitman *56, whose opposite end is formedwith a yoke 77 that is freely journaled upon the crank pin 80. Theseveral pitmen 76 have their yokes of different widths, to enable themto be nested or straddled one over another upon the crank 80.

The fixed crank 80 is mounted upon the supporting side arms 81 carryingoppositely projecting stub shafts 82, 83. The stub shaft 82 passesthrough a central opening 10: of the spider frame 10 and is keyed insend opening by keys 82 and has a threaded outer portion 82 upon whichis mounted a lock nut 82. Freely journaled upon the stub shaft 82 is abearing sleeve 85 upon which is keyed, by one or more keys 86,the splder65 supporting the rotary series of cylinders at one side.

The arm 81 of crank pin 80 at the oppos1te side of the engine carriesthe stub shaft 83, upon which is journaled the hollowed out inner end ofa power transmittin stub or shaft section 90. This shaft sectlon bearsupon the stub shaft 83 and carries a circular flange 91 which is rigidlysecured by means of set screws to the spider 60, the spider having acentral opening at 60 to receive the inner end of the hollow shaftsection 90. The shaft section 90 is freely journaled in the bearingsleeve 92, which is keyed to the. frame spider 5 by means of one ormorekeys 93.

The crank pin 80 supported in the manner explained is eccentric to thecenter of rotation of the engine rotor. With this fixed crank pin 80 inthis position it will beunderstood that the pitmen 76 all of equallength will assume different angular positions within the engine rotor,thereby maintaining the' of each spark plug for creating the chargeexploding spark in the cylinder at the proper moment. An electric w1re103 extends from the brush 105 to a suitable source of electric I tomake contact with the exposed terminal current, the return line of thecircuit being through the machine in a manner well understood.Projecting beneath the hub 101 of the controller is an arm 106 formedwith a segment 107, which is frictionally engaged by a spring arm 108secured to the splder frame 5. This device is for the purpose'ofretainin the controller arm 100 in the desired EdJllStGd position. Bymoving the arm more or less the timing of the engine can be regulated.

Keyed to shaft section 90 is a worm gear 110 meshing with a smaller wormgear 111 keyed to the lower end of a vertical shaft 112 suitablyjournaled in the bracket bearings 113 and 114 secured respectively uponthe spider frame 6 and cylindrical casin 1. Keyed to the upper end ofthe shaft 112 is a worm gear 115 meshing with a similar gear 116 keyedto the outer end of the stem 28 of auxiliary exhaust valve 27. By thisgearing the exhaust valve 27 is alternately opened and closed in propertime to open up communication between every alternate cylinder and theouter air and to close up this communication with the interveningcylinders to retain the compressed charge at the moment of ignition.

It will be observed particularly with reference to Fig. 3 of thedrawings that an elbow of an oil supply device (not shown) leads into anaxial oil opening 126 ofthe stud shaft 82 of the crank. 'From thisopening 126 oil passage 40 leads through the arms 81, crank 80, to axialopening 127 of stud shaft 83. From these main oil channels suitablebranch oiling ports extend to the various parts tobe oiled.

The operation of the improved engine will be clear from the followingbrief explanation:

Starting with the assumption that one of the cylinders has taken in acharge of gas through the inlet port 21 it will be understood that thisparticular cylinder passes up to a point beneath the auxiliary exhaust27, compressing the charge because of the movement of the pistonoutwardly in the particular cylinder referred to. As this chargedcylinder reaches the. desired position beneath the exhaust valve 27 saidvalve will be closed and the sparking device, being active, will ignitethe compressed charge as the cylinder referred to passes over the deadcenter. The expansion of the exploded charge tends to force the pistoninwardly in its cylinder and since this action is exerted against arigid crank pin 80 the resultant force gives the rotor an impulse"forward in its casing 1. The explosive force continues to act until thecylinder referred to reaches the main exhaust 20 at which time the mainport of the burnt partially expanded gas is exhausted through the port20. The exploded cylinder then passes on over the intake port 21, but atthis moment there is still retained in the cylinder suiticient burnedgases to avoid the intake of a new charge at this time. The unexpelledremainder of the exploded charge is then further compressed up to thepoint of com municatingwith the auxiliary exhaust 27, at which time saidvalve 27 is opened to permit the complete exhaustion of the cylinder.Following this complete scavenging of the cylinder referred to, it willbe understood that it then proceeds past the main exhaust to the intakeport, where there is sufiicient vacuum or suction to insure the takingin of a new charge of gas and the cycle is repeated, as just explained.In the operation of the engine it will be observed that every alternatecylinder'that passes the sparking defice is exploded while theintervening cylinders are exhausted. With an unequal number of cylindersarranged as explained in the engine rotor, it will be understood that bycharging, compressing and exploding alternate cylinders of the rotatingseries all of the cylinders are called into play in two revolutions ofthe engine, the cylinders operating on the four cycle principle, asabove explained. The segmental flanges 51 upon opposite sides of thecylindrical bores of shell cylinders 50 are of greater widthcircumferentially than the casing ports so that they will eflt'ectivelyclose the engine cylinders against leakage while they are moving intoand out of registry with the ports and particularly the auxiliaryexhaust port when the valve 27 is closed'and a compressed charge isexploded.

The rotor of connected cylinders serves the purpose of a fly wheel.Power can be taken from the driven shaft section by belt pulley or gear(not shown) in the usual manner. The pistons and cylinders are properlylubricated from the central oihng system above described, the oil beingcarried to these parts by centrifugal force.

I claim:

1. A rotary internal combustion engine'of the four cycle type comprisinga stationary cylindrical casing having an inlet and two exhaust ports, arotor of connected openended cylinders operatingin said casing,

independent spark plugs carried by said cylinders and traveling in acommon path,

crank pin, and an lgniting controlling contact brush supported inthepath of the spark plugs. I 2. A rotary internal combustion engine of thefour cycle type comprising a stationary cylindrical casing having a gasinlet port and main and auxiliary exhaust ports, a se-' ries of an oddnumber of open-ended cylinders operating in said casing, spark plugscarried by and projecting laterally from said cylinder, pistonsoperating in said cylinders,

a stationary crank pin mounted eccentrically of the center of rotationof said cylinders, pitmen connecting the several pistons with said crankpin, an adjustable controller arm supporting a contact brush in the pathof said spark plugs and a valve controlling the auxiliary exhaust port.

3. A rotary internal combustion engine of the four cycle type comprisinga stationary cylindrical casing havlng a gas inlet port and main andauxiliary exhaust ports, a series of an odd number of open-endedcylinders operating in said casing, spark plugs carried by saidcylinders, pistons operating in said cylinders, a stationary crank pinmounted eccentrically of the center of rotation of said cylinders,pitmen connecting the several pistons with said crank pin, an ignitioncontrolling device, a rotary valve controlling the auxiliary exhaust andmeans for operating said valve to alternately open and close the valveas the cylinders successively pass said auxiliary exhaust.

4. In a rotary explosive engine of the four cycle type, the combinationof a cylindrical casing formed with circumferentially disposed gas inletand main and auxiliary exhaust ports, check valves controlling the gasinlet and main exhaust ports,'a controlling valve in the auxiliaryexhaust ports,

operating mechanism 7 for said controlling valve for alternately openingand closing it, a rotary series of an uneven number of openendedcylinders operating within said casing, piston operating in saidcylinders, an

eccentrically mounted crank pin, pitmen connecting said pistons withsaid crank pin," and suitable ignition devices.

5. In a rotary explosive engine of the four cycle type, the combinationof a cylin-'180 'drical casing formed with circumferentially disposedgas inlet and main and auxiliary exhaust ports, check valves controllingthe gas inlet and main exhaust'ports, a controlling valve in theauxiliary exhaust port operating mechanism for said controlling valve,for alternately opening and closing it, a rotary series of an unevennumber ofo open ended cylinders operating within said casing, pistonsoper atin in said cylinders, a crank pin formed wit supporting crankarms and stub shafts, the stub shafts of which are mounted in the'axisof rotation of said cylinders, means for securing said crank pin in thedesired position, pitmen connecting said pistons with said crank pin andsuitable ignition devices.

6. In :a rotary explosive engine of the 'four cycle type, thecombination of a cylindrical casing formed with circumferentiallyleccentrically mounted crank pin, pitmen connecting said pistons withsaid crank pin, a shaftconnected with and driven by said rotary seriesof cylinders, gearing between saidshaft and said controlling valve, andsuitable ignition devices.

7. In a rotary explosive engine of the four cycle type, the combinationof a. cylindrical casing having gasinlet and main and auxiliary exhaustports, a rotary series of openended cylinders operating in said casing,pistons operating in said cylinders, a stationary eccentrically mountedcrank pin, pitmen connecting said pistons with said crank pin, a seriesof spark plu scarried by said cylinders, a controlling va ve in saidauxiliary exhaust and an ignition controlling brush supported adjacentto said controlling valve in position to electrically contact with thesuccessive spark plugs, substantially as described.

I 8. In a rotary explosive engine of the four c'ycle type, 'thecombination of a cylindrical casing having gas inlet and main and auxiliary exhaust ports, a rotor having an uneven number of radiallyextending cylindrical openings, cylindrical shellsmountedin said radialopenings and formed with open outer ends and oppositely projectingsegmental flanges which contact with the inner cylindrical surface ofsaid casing, pistons operating in said shell cylinders, a ,sta tionarycrank pin, pitmen connecting said pistons with said crank" pin, andsuitable ignition devices.

9. In a rotary explosive engine of the four cycle type, the combinationof a cylindrical casing having gas inlet and mam mounted in the ed insaid radial opemngs and formed with open outer ends and oppositelyprojecting segmental flanges which contact with the inner cylindricalsurface of said casing, springs between said flanges and the rotor body,pistons operating in said shell cylinders, a stationary crank pin,pitmen con necting said pistons with said crank pin, a 6

series of spark plugs carried by said cylinders, and suitable ignitioncontrolling devices.

10.. In a rotary explosive engine of the four cycle type, thecombination of a' cylindrical casing having gas inlet and main andauxiliary exhaust ports, a rotor having an uneven number of radiallyextending cylindrical openings, cylindrical shells mounted in saidradial openings and formed with open outer endsfand oppositelyprojecting segmental flanges which contact with the inner cylindricalsurface of said casing, springs between said flanges and the-rotor so obody, pistonsoperating in said shell cyl- Y 1 inders, a stationary crankpin, pitmen connecting said pistons with said crank in, a series ofspark lugs carried by sai inders, a control ing valve in said auxiliaryexhaust, and an ignition controlling brush supported adjacent to saidcontrolling valve in position to electrically contact with thesuccessive spark plugs.

11. In a rotary explosive engine of the four cycle type, the combinationof a cylindrical casing having gas inlet and main and auxiliary exhaustports, frames secured upon opposite faces of-said cylindrical casing andformed with central bearings, a rotor com rising an uneven number ofopen ended cy inders, side frames secure upon opposite faces of saidrotor and formed with central bearing openings, an adjustable U-shapedcrank formed with oppositely projecting stub shafts which are mounted inthe bearings of casing frames, the side frames of the rotor beingjournaled upon the stub shafts of said cranks, pistons operating in saidcylinders, pitmen connecting said pistons with said crank, a drivenshaft, means of connecting said driven shaft with said rotor, andsuitable ignition devices.

12. In a rotary explosive engine of the four cycle type, the combinationof a cy-,

lindrical casing having gas inlet and main upon opposite faces of saidcylindrical casin and formed with central bearings, an ad ustableU-shaped crank formed with oppositely projectin stub shafts which areframes, a rotor comprising an uneven number of open-ended cylinders,journaled upon the stub shafts of said crank, pistons opand auxiliaryexhaust ports, frames secured earings of said casing- I mower erating insaid cylinders, pitmen connecti% said pistons with said crank, a; drivensha connected with said rotor, and suitable ignition devices.

13. In a rotary explosive engine of the four cycle type, the combinationof a cy.

lindrical casinghaving gas inlet and main and auxiliary exhaust ports,frames secured upon opposite faces of said cylindrical casing and formedwith central bearings, an adjustable U-shaped crank formed withoppositely projecting stub shafts which are crank, a driven shaftconnected with said rotor and suitable zignition device's, salid crankand stub shafts being formed with communication oil passage ways leadingto surfaces to belubricated,

'14. In a rotary explosive engine of the four cycle type, thecombination of a cylindrical casing having gas inlet and main andauxiliary exhaust ports, a rotary series of open-ended cylindersoperating in said casing, oppositely projecting segmental flangescarried by the outer ends of said cylinders in working engagement withsaid casing, said fiangcs being of greater width circumferentially thanthe casing ports, pistons operating in said cylinders, a stationarycrank pin, pitmen connecting said pistons with said crank pin andsuitable ignition devices.

' HENRY JAMS GAUTHIER.

